Rotary valve engine



Jan. 8, 1935. c. w. HALL 1,987,105

ROTARY VALVE ENG I NE Filed Jan, 26, 1954 3 sheets-sheet 1 2 ge I /a 3545 54 .30 y ,af 2a /7 i l 2? fili" /f I 1 I 23 Il 1 2 i 'I !"m I L'.L`l' 4 .33l 4 l J7 3o @y 'L 44 Qa? 47/ L. .z g L 36 athena/cui Jn. 8,1935. C, w- HALL 1,987,105

ROTARY VALVE ENGINE Filed Jan. 26, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet `2 Jan. 8, 1935.'C, W' HALL 1,987,105

ROTARY VALVE ENGINE l I 'wwnkor Patented Jan.` 8, 1935 UNIT-.EDy vSTATESPATENT :OFFICE 1,987,105, j e f f ROTARY vALvE ENGINE t Charles W. Hall,Denver, Colo. i Appliatidn January j2, 1934. semina; 708.469" I salamal(o1. 12s- 190) Y This invention relates to a rotaryv valve for in;ternal combustion engines. `The principal object of the invention is toprovide a highly eflicient valve construction in which a single valvemember will eiiiciently control the intake and exhaust of a plurality ofcylinders, and which will eliminate all reciprocating valve mechanisms.

Another object of the invention isto so construct the valve that it willcreate a suction. or Vacuum action to assist in scavenging thecylinders. Afurther object of the invention resides in the meansemployed for effectively lubricating the valve constructions and forsealing and maintaining the same at an eicient temperature. y l

Other objects and advantages reside vinthe detail construction of theinvention, which is designed for simplicity, economy, and eiiiciency.'I'hese will become more apparent from the following description.

In the following detailed description ofl the in- Vention reference ishad tothe accompanying' drawings which form a part hereof. Like nurmerals refer to like parts in all views of the drawings and throughoutthe description. A J

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a cross section through the valve structure,taken on the line 1 1, of Fig. 5.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section looking downwardly, taken on the line 22, Fig. 1.`

Fig. `3` is a similar horizontal section illustrating the valve inadifferent position.

Fig. 4 .is a horizontalsection illustrating the sealing plate, taken onthe line 4 4, Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken on the. line 5 5, Fig. 1. I'

Figl is a vertical section taken on the line 6 6, Fig. 5. l

Fig. 'Tis a detail View illustrating the lubricating applicator for thevalve.

Fig. 8 is a detail section through a type of sealing ring employed inthe sealing plate.

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of atypicalr motor block with the inventionapplied thereto.

Fig. 10 is a detail section through an `alternate form of sealing ringfor the sealing plate.

In'the drawings: la typical engine block is in- -dicated at 10 with `aplurality of cylinders .11, 12,

is. closed with a cylinder heady in which pas sages 21 are formed toconnect4 the Various cylinders with the Valve. A valve housing 16 issecured on the head 15 and the valve housing in turn A .'isclosled bymeans of a cap 17. yThe valve housing contains a cylindrical bore forreceiving a 'cylindrical, drum-likerotary Valve18. k I Between thecylinder head .15 and the rotary Valve 18 a sealing plate-19V ispositi0ned.`; This plateis an'annular flatdisc which isy constantly`forced into close contactwith the bottom ofthe vof the portsll to14communicate with its're-v spective cylinder through one of thepassages 21 in the ,cylinderhead *15.A The positionof these passages isindicated' in broken line in Fig. 4. An annular sealing ring22 snugly tseach of the portsin-thev sealing plate sojas to seal thepassages21ftotheir1respective port openings in the plate 19.;l The sealing platedoes not rotate but remains 'stationary so as to. maintain.' its portsconstantly in alignmentwith jtheir vrespective passages..v` y

The vvalve housing 16 is provided with an intake j 23 which opens to anannular intakepassage y24 partially surrounding the rotary valve 18. Thecap 17 is formed with al Venturi-shaped exhaust 4outlet 25 leading. toanyA desired exhaust pipel ,26. The exhaust outlet,v 25 is positionedexactly about `the 'center of rotation of the valve 18`.;'f'Ihebotlto'm'of the valve 18v contains an elongatedintake opening2'7positioned so that it. willpass successivelytover the ports in thesealing plate 19.

` A series'of openings 28 are formed about ythe wall of thevalve 18opening, to the surrounding 'intake passage 24soas to allow the intakegases to be Vdrawn inwardly through the inlet .23, the passage. 24, andthe' openings 28 into thehollow interior of the valve 18; Fromherethegases are drawn throughthe opening 27.into-one offthe ports inthe sealing'plate, thence throughlits passage 21 to the cylinder.

rsure exhaust passage 30. `The highl pressure ex-y `haustpassage 29communicates through they bot;

tom ofthe valve in a relatively large high pressure opening 31 andterminates at the top of the valve in a relatively small, dischargenozzle 32 positioned centrally of the'outlet 25. The second y exhaust`.passage communicatesthrough the bottom of tthe valve 'through' arelativelyV small low pressure opening 33and terminates aty .the

f y'Lubrication is provided top of the valve in an annular discharge 34surrounding the nozzle 32. The'action of this ar-A rangement will belater described. e

I'he valve 18 may be rotated in any desired manner such as from a pinion35 mounted on the upper extremity of a drive shaft 36 extending from aconnection Withthe engine crank shaft. The pinion 35 is mounted insuitable ball bearings 37 in an extension ofthe valve housingy 16. A

ring gear A48 completely surrounds the valve 18 and meshes with thepinion 35;'` This is a suggested method for rotating thevalve. It isconceivable that it might be rotatedA in other ways? 'Ihe sealing plate19 is preferably hollow yso asV to provide a water cooling space. Thewaterfsy conducted to the plate through a suitable intake tube 38 and'discharged therefrom roma similar.

- tube 39. It is preferred tosurroundthe periphery of the sealing platewith a junk ring 40 l"which .acts i ferrule :44 which vis verticallyslidable on the nip-v ple and constantly pressed against the valve 18 bymeans-of acompression spring 45. i A cross pin 46 in the lnipple vpassesthrough yslotted openings in the ferrule tozprevent rotation vof theemule. Thefoilis .forcedfupwardlythroughthe nipple 43and.outwardlybetween the ferrule and thelbottom .of 'the valve 18.Centrifugal .faction causes the oil to spread outwardl-yover the 'bottomsurface of the valve7 so as toeffectively @lubricate :the bearingcontact between the sealing plate. 1l9 'and the vvalve' 18, and thesealing rings 22;

Y Asuitablespalrk plug :47 `is positionedin each o'f the passages 121ftoignite the -charge'therein at the proper time. VLThe spark Aplugof'course could bel'placedat any other desired point inrcommunicationvvith the cylinder. I f

The sealing ring 22 may have any suitable form which will allow iit'to'expand axially so that'it .will maintain )contact withuthebottom ofthe lvalv'e and with the -top of the cylinder head 15 so as -to sealthese ftwo parts together. One method .for accomplishing this is vshownf8` in which the ringis/formedirom'ga .endless ring 22v of a 'Widthsubstantially .equal `to the width yof fthe sealing plate 19 and lof athickness equal .to the total :thickness of thering. .'The front `face.of kthe I'rain"ring-22v :is bevelled and fagainstthis'mnt face tvvo`springWri-ngs 49 Vand :50 lbear.' These minor rings :have bevelledtaces'jand yare split so kthat their :inherent elasticity willconstantly torce them aagainst the bevelled zfaceof :the ring22. actstofexpand the entire .assemfbly Laxially 4so .that it will always sealthe :space fbetween fthe'ilo'wer surface of Vthe valve 1 8 land theJupper '5 surface of the 'head 15.

Operation Letfisassume that the cylinders are to --re in Y the followingorder'11,.13, 14,12, and that 'the `valve is rotating in rawclockwisedirection. l'Ifl'iel *intake* :opening `27 passes .over the port '-1'1',falf'lowing the piston fin the cylinder 11 tosuek in .al

:charge .of gas. 'The opening -27 then passes from theport l11 so as =tofclose the latter. This allows :the .piston in :cylinder 11 to ymove:upwardly and fcompress thegas therein. At the `.point of .com-

:pressiom the .gas Willzbe .ignited by the .spark plug to thelowersurface of 47 and the piston will move downwardly to the bottomposition. At this time the first discharge opening 31 will have reachedthe port 11' and will begin to open the port allowing the high pressuregas therein to discharge into the discharge passage 17,` and through thenozzle 32. pressure discharge of gas through the Venturishaped outletk25` creates a partial vacuumin the :second exhaust passage 30 so thatwhen the latter is opened to the port 11 through 'the opening 33 Assoonas the opening 3 3 closes the port 11,'it will be again opened bytheintake opening `27 for the admission `oi" a freshchargelof gas.

"The ucyclehas `been xdescribed as applied to -one cylinder. `It will berepeated'on each of the cyl;A inders in 'theirturn .as the val-veopenings their respective ports, and each cylinder' will y:receive theeffect fof the .scavenging action of the high pressure `discharge of thelsimceeding cylinder..` f

vThe temperature `of the sealing plate 'is always kept at a practicalpoint by the water, or other cooling medium, within its hollw'interiorwIt will be noted 'that vthe openings `in the .periphery of the rotaryvalve 19 are irregularly spa-ced. This is done to decrease thesiren-like effect `of regularly `placedopenings and to reduceunnecessary'noise. l

.While the intake `chamber/24 is illustrated Aas only vpartiallysurrounding the valve, itcould,

respective ports and, owing to the difference' vthe frictional speedsAat their inner and outer areas they do Vrota-te in their ports.This.=.causes This high them to wear evenly at all pointsand also .actsn to spread the'lubricant` evenly over the 'rings and the plate 19.. Itwill be .noted that ythe inter- V nal pressurewithin the sealingrings'acts' to force the inner rings outwardly iso .as lto create a seal:between .the various parts of the ringand between the'valve 18` and the4head A15v 'thatpis proportionate to the pressureto be sealed.

y The junk ring 40 assists' in transferring .or conducting heat fromthe; sealing plate 19 to the `cooled walls of the housing 16. i v

:It .is also desired ,to call" attention tol Athe three-piece design ofthe valve enclosing parts. They lcomprise .the vhead 15, .the housing1,6, `and the cap 17. This greatly `facilitates manufacture, assemblyand maintenance.

In Fig. 1f0zan alternate form of port -seal :for

the sealing plate l19 isillustrated. In thisfcrm,.

v.expandingso'as to stopoil from entering the port openings inthesealing plate. An -oil line 5.4'may be provided Lto supply lubricant4to the 'upper .gr thrust surface of the valve 18.y 'i

The yupper surface ,or thrust `bearing the" valve 18 maybe lubricated inany desired fmanner, such .as through a ,lubricating pipe'j54.

While a specific form of the improvement has been described andillustrated herein, it is desired to be understood that the same may bevaried, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing fromUthe spirit of the invention. y

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired securedby Letters Patent 1s:-

1. In a rotary valve: a first exhaust passage etxending through saidvalve` from a portin one face thereof; a second exhaust passageextending about said first passage from a port adjacent the port of saidrst passage.

2. In a rotary valve: a first exhaust passage extending through saidvalve from a port` in one face thereof; a second exhaust passageextending about said first passage from a port adjacent the port of saidfirst passage, so that said two ports will successively receive theexhaust from an engine cylinder, said passages terminating adjacently;and a Venturi-shaped conduit surrounding the adjacent discharges of saidpassages.

3. In a rotary valve, a first central exhaust opening in one face ofsaid valve; a second exhaust opening in said latter face adjacent saidrst opening; a conduit for receiving the discharge from both openings,said conduit being shaped and positioned so that the discharge from oneopening will create a suction on the other opening.

4. A rotary valve for internal 'combustion engines comprising: a hollowcylindrical rotatable valve having opposed first and second lateralfaces; a first exhaust opening in the first of said faces; a secondexhaust opening .in said first face; an intake opening in said firstface, all of said openings being positioned to 'one side of the axis ofsaid Valve; a' first passage extending from said first exhaust openingthrough the axis of the second lateral face; a second passage extendingfrom said second exhaust opening through said second lateral face aboutsaid first passage; and peripheral openings in the cylindrical wall ofsaid valve communicating with said intake opening through said valve.

5. A rotary valve for internal combustion engines for rotation in aported valve housing comprising: a hollow cylindrical valve; an exhaustopening in one lateral plane face of said valve to one side of the axisthereof; an intake opening in said lateral face spaced from said exhaustopening and also positioned eccentrically of the axis; an exhaustopening in theopposite plane face of said Valve positionedconcentrically of the axis; a conduit extending through said valve fromsaid face to said second exhaust openings, the remainder of said valvebeing hollow, and communicating with said intake opening, and therebeing a series of openings about the cylindrical surface of said valve.

6. A rotary valve for Ainternal combustion engines vfor rotation in aported Valve housing comprising: a hollow cylindrical valve; an .vex-

' haust opening in one lateral plane face of said valve `to one side ofthe axis thereof; an intake opening in said lateral face spaced fromsaid exhaust opening and also positioned eccentrically of the axis;anexhaust opening in the opposite plane face of said valve poistionedconcentrically of the axis; a conduit extending through said valve fromsaid face to said second exhaust openings, the remainder of said valvebeing hollow, and communicating with said intake open,-

ing, there being a series of openings about the cylindrical surface ofsaid valve; and an intake' chamber surrounding the cylindrical surface-of said valve and constantly open to the openings in said cylindricalsurface.

7. In a rotary valve, a first exhaust passage extending through saidvalve from a first port in one lateral face thereof; a second exhaustpassage adjacent said first passage and extending through said valvefrom a second port ad-A jacent said first port.

8. In a rotary Valve, a first exhaust passage extending through saidValve from a port in onev face thereof; a second exhaust passageextending about said first passage from a port adja-v cent the port ofsaid first passage, so that said two ports will successively receive`the exhaust from an engine cylinder, said passages terminatingadjacently.

9. In a rotary valve having a lateral portedl sure member against saidvalve; and means for conducting lubricant to said pressure member.

CHARLES W. HALL.

